What Is a Digital Collection or Digital Library?

Have you Accessed a Digital Collection or Library Before?

Whether you’re a researcher, student, librarian, or bibliophile, it’s likely you’ve accessed a digital collection or enjoyed a digital library like the Afro-American’s digital newspaper collection. Using these convenient resources may lead you to wonder how to make your own collection sharable online. In order to impact a community, the digitized document must be given wider access.

 

 

What Does a Digital Library Consist Of?

A digital collection, also known as a digital library, is any collection of files that has been digitally preserved and is accessible on the internet or through software. A digital library may contain manuscripts, newspapers, books, journals, images, audio, and video.

There are all kinds of digital libraries. If you’ve recently watched a movie on Netflix, read a magazine on Google Books, researched history using the Library of Congress’ website, or rediscovered a favorite classic book on Project Gutenberg, you’ve accessed a digital library without even knowing it.

Why Create a Digital Library?

Digital collections and libraries are a great solution to the “what now?” question that often follows a digitization project. Digitized documents can be stored online or on a local server. The storing itself doesn’t ensure the digitized documents are usable, however. A stored but inaccessible digital document is only one step removed from a stored but inaccessible physical one. A digital library also allows you or an archivist to keep watch for any hardware or software that may become obsolete. You don’t want technology to keep you from your collection.

Want a digital collection but don't want to manage it yourself? Anderson Archival can not only create your digital library but can serve as a site administrator, monitoring files, access, and preventing misuse.

How Are Digital Collections and Document Preservation Connected?

Historical documents, whether they’re significant to your individual organization, family, or a larger community, are usually made of paper, parchment, or other delicate materials. Nothing lasts forever. All it takes is a flood, fire, or misplaced cup of coffee to turn an important piece of history into dust.

Digital libraries are user-friendly ways to organize and view your newly-digitized collection. Digital document preservation guarantees that your collection won’t be erased by the passage of time.

With all the options for creating a digital library, where do you even begin?

Anderson Archival is here to help you sort through all the possibilities and find the best solution for your unique collection. Don’t settle for a library software that doesn’t fit your collection’s needs.

What Does a Digital Library Look Like?

Anderson Archival recommends several different options, depending on how you intend to use your collection. If your digital document collection is going to be accessed by a select few users, you may consider storing the collection on a local server connected to only a few machines (with an additional backup stored securely on the cloud, just in case).

If your collection will be used by an organization or a large number of internal users for research or education purposes, a cloud server or digital access management systems (DAMS) may be the best solution for you.